Inlay of handbag frame



July 26, 1955 T. FRIEDMAN 2,714,031

INLAY 0F HANDBAG FRAME Filed April 27, 1953 United States Patent lNLAY or HANDBAG FRAME Thomas Friedman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Ideal Handbag Frame Mfg. Corp., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,379

1 Claim. ((11. 292-228) This invention relates to handbags and more particularly to inlays of handbag frames.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inlay of a handbag frame wherein angular rotation of the opening knob on the handbag frame is substantially eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inlay for handbag frames of the above type which insures an even spacing between the bottom of the opening knob and the handbag frame, facilitating the insertion of cloth around the handbag frame.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an inlay for handbag frames bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handbag frame incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the frame in the opened position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and shown with the fabric over the frame;

Fig. 5 is a view of the invention, shown alone, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the invention before bending.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown the usual hinged handbag frame elements 10 and 11 of U-shaped configuration and secured at their ends to each other by pins or rivets 12, substantially as illustrated.

The usual bag 13 is secured to the frame members 10 and 11, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

The frame member 10 across its central portion is provided with an elongated opening 14.

In the practice of my invention an inlay, referred to collectively as 15, is provided, this inlay (Fig. 6) being formed from a rectangular blank 16 integrally formed at each side with ears 17. The lower edge 18 is bent up along a longitudinal median line into adjacency with the upper edge 19, as shown in Fig. 5, and the ears 17 bent at right angles to the blank 16. The central portion of the blank 16 is bent with an opening 20 adapted to receive therein the usual L-shaped spring 21 in a manner which will hereinafter become clear.

The inlay is inserted downwardly from the outside through the opening 14 whereupon the spring 21 is passed through opening 20, the end portion 22 of the spring 21 engaging one of the side walls of the frame 10 to resist angular rotation of the inlay 15 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3, as well as angular rotation thereby of the spring 21 beyond a certain degree determined by the distance between the opposite walls of the frame. The longitudinal portion of the spring 21 is tightly retained in the opening 20 in order to prevent rotation of that portion relative to the inlay 15. A knob 23 of plastic or other suitable material receives the edges 18 and 19 therewithin and rests upon the lugs 17, as shown in Fig. 4.

A lug 24 is secured to the central portion of frame 11 and is received within a groove 25 provided along the lower edge of knob 23.

Thus, the frame members 10 and 11 will be retained in the position of Fig. 2 by the resilient engagement of lug 24 with groove 25, the knob 23 being retained in the substantially vertical position by the action of spring 21. When, however, it is desired to open the frame members 10 and 11, the knob 23 is rotated in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3 about the axis of the spring as a pivot against the action of spring 21, freeing the lug 24 from groove 25.

By the provision of the lug 17 at each side, limited angular rotation of the knob 23 together with the inlay 15 is permitted, providing thereby a more secure construction. As shown in Fig. 4, the lugs 17 support the undersurface of knob 23 at each side of inlay 15. It will also be noted that the lugs 17 provide a space equal to their own thickness between the frame members and the knob 23, facilitating the insertion of cloth 26 therebetween as shown in Fig. 4.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

In a handbag frame having an elongated opening along one frame element and a catch along another frame element opposite said elongated opening, an inlay consisting of two metal layers integrally connected along one of its longitudinal edges, one of said metal layers having lugs projecting substantially perpendicularly from said metal layers, the said inlay being inserted in the elongated opening of said one frame element and said lugs engaging the outer face of said one frame element to limit the insertion of said inlay in said elongated opening, a substantially L-shaped spring, one arm of said spring being secured and frictionally held between said metal layers adjacent said integrally connected longitudinal edges of the latter and the free end of the other arm of said L-shaped spring engaging the inner face of said one frame element to permit a torsion effect of said one arm of the spring upon angular rotation of said inlay, and a knob attached at its bottom face to said inlay, said knob having a groove at its bottom face opposite said catch in the closed position of said frame, and said groove being adapted to receive said catch in the closed position of the handbag frame, and, thereby, to retain said frame elements in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,880 Brooks et al. Oct. 5, 1915 1,163,331 Fuller Dec. 7, 1915 1,361,378 Fuller Dec. 7, 1920 1,506,233 Fuller Aug. 26, 1924 1,677,137 Hiering July 17, 1928 2,059,821 Spitalny Nov. 3, 1936 2,399,866 Hardy May 7, 1946 

